Korda Kaizen Platinum

Kaizen Journey Explained

The Kaizen Rod range has been in development for over four years and was born when we felt we could develop high-end rods that were even better than those already on the market – despite this being a first for Korda , we have utilised the vast knowledge and experience of our Team Korda anglers and product development staff to produce an outstanding range of rods.

Danny Fairbrass has a long association with the rods that bear his name and has been involved in the development of them.

It was a natural progression for Korda to develop a range ourselves that had all the attributes that he, and our other anglers, would look for in the best carp rods.

The aim was to design a range of premium rods that would cover virtually any carp fishing situation at home or abroad, allowing you to not only accurately target the fish if it were at range, but which would also be enjoyable to play with.

All of our high-end Kaizen rods are built on a rapid profile mandrel, meaning the taper of the rod is consistent from butt to tip.

This produces rods with a very "tippy" action, with virtually all the flex located toward the tip. Naturally, when subjected to extreme pressure like casting, the rod will still bend to some extent. This type of action allows for better power transfer and the generation of very high tip speeds, which in turn allows for further casting.
The Kaizen range has been given a bespoke look, featuring the kind of high-quality components you'd expect to find on a rod at this price. The blank is finished with a durable matte clear varnish that highlights the carbon and has been extensively tank-tested to ensure its durability. This essentially means it's incredibly durable and will take a long time to show signs of weathering from exposure to sunlight and humidity.

Of course, there’s no point in developing a rod that’s incredibly light for its power and then adding heavy components, so the entire Kaizen range features lightweight Sea-Guide TDG guides, with a 50mm butt and 16mm tip – allowing the line to ‘round out’ from a large spool to minimise resistance as it passes through the butt ring, and providing a tip ring large enough to allow leader knots to pass through easily.

The reel is secured with a premium Fuji DPS seat, and the handle is finished with a Japanese shrink wrap, which is more than just cosmetic and provides a good grip even when your hands or rod are wet. The aluminum wrap and engraved butt cap, crafted by JAG, complete the highly desirable custom look.

As for the top-end Kaizen range, there are currently seven models, with 12ft 3lb, 3.5lb and 4lb rods, plus a 12ft spod rod; a 12ft 6in 4lb version for those who really want an extreme range rod but find a 13ft model a little too long; plus 13ft 3.5lb and 4lb models.

This will cover pretty much any fishing situation, with the lighter model being perfectly suited to close range fishing, but where you want the power to control and stop a big carp if needed, plus it can cast a rig very far when required.

The 4-pound models, our specialized "long-range" tools, have the ability to cast a lead and rig at incredible distances when in the right hands, as demonstrated by the likes of Terry Edmonds and Darrell Peck. In real-life fishing situations, we've measured casts exceeding 200 yards, which are featured in our next chapter, the Long Range Masterclass, filmed at Iles3 in France.

Danny Fairbrass, who has been involved in rod design for many years and was one of the driving forces behind the Kaizen range, enthused: “They’re an absolute joy to use, so light yet powerful and with really light guides, so they move through the air so easily and cast so perfectly straight. They also look absolutely stunning.”

So, whatever your casting style and skill, you’ll find a Kaizen rod to suit you, allowing you to fish further and more accurately than ever before.

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